July, 1909 



THE CANADIAN HOETIC ULTURIST 



157 



Alberta 



Wm. R. Reader 



The Russian poplar, as an ornamental 



^ree for town planting, is a species that 



eems to do remarkably well in Calgary 



rhilst in a young state. It grows rapidly, 



|ieems to be almost or quite immune from 



pests and diseases, withstands the rigors 



of the winter well and last, but perhaps not 



Jeast, retains its foliage longer in the fall 



^than most other trees, at which season it 



assumes some very pretty tinta. These are 



Jl very strong recommendations, and the 



litizens of Calgary are very enthusiastic 



bvor the Russian poplar and are planting 



St quite extensively. 



Recently, however, an eminent forestry 

 expert, who is a government employee, 

 was through hero, and whilst in Calgary 

 gave a most interesting and instructive lec- 

 ture on trees. During the course of this 

 lecture, he emphatically condemned the 

 Russian poplar, saying that it would prove 

 very unsatisfactory as it approached matur- 

 ity. It is impossible to prove his state- 

 ments here, as the oldest specimens of this 

 species that we have are not more than 

 10 or 15 years of age, and, as previously 

 stated, they seem to be our best trees whilst 

 in a young state. It seems to me that it 

 would be utter folly to continue to plant 

 these trees, if it is as the lecturer stated; 

 for, just as they would be approaching the 

 most useful period of their existence for 

 shade and ornamental purposes, they would 

 be destroyed, and a start would have to be 

 again from the beginning. I should be glad 

 of information from any of the readers of 

 The Canadian Hortiotjltxjbist in the 

 Northwest, who may have been able to ob- 

 serve this particular species for a longer 

 period than we have had the opportunity 

 of doing in Calgary. 



Note. — The foregoing letter was sub- 



mitted to Prof. E. J. Zavitz, Forester pt 

 the Ontario Agricultural College, Guleph, 

 who replied as follows: "Our experience in 

 this country with this tree has been very 

 limited, but I take it for granted that the 

 Russian poplar would be much the same 

 as the others of this genus ; that is, all the 

 populus group are rapid growers during 

 their early period, but deteriorate very 

 early in life. I think it is likely that the 

 views of the forestry expert are correct." 

 Readers of The Canadian Horticulturist 

 in the Northwest who have obs'^rved the 

 behaviour of this tree, are requested to 

 tell their experiences through these col- 

 umns. — Editor. 



Co-operation in Nova Scotia 



Editor, The Canadian HoRTiotri-TtxRiST, — 

 I would like to make a few observations 

 in reference to co-operation in the province 

 of Nova Scotia along the line of packing 

 and marketing fruit. During the past 

 fruit season there were four co-operativo 

 fruit packing companies operating in the 

 Annapolis Valley. Two of these companies 

 own their packing houses ; the other two 

 rent them as yet. Fruit growers who are 

 members of these co-operative companies 

 gather their fruit carefully (at least, it 

 should be gathered carefully) and take it 

 to the packing house, which is located be- 

 side the railway track. Here the grading 

 and packing is done under the supervision 

 of a competent man and a uniform grade 

 is maintained throughout. If Mr. A. has 

 fruit that will pack 70 per cent. No. 1, he 

 has advantage over Mr. B., whose fruit will 

 pack only 40 per cent. No. 1. Every mem- 

 ber gets credit for the class or grade of 

 fruit that he can produce ; in this way, a 

 spirit of rivalry is created to See who can 

 grow the best quality and have packed the 



largest percentage of No. 1 fruit. Furth- 

 er, while one man is endeavoring to outclass 

 his neighbor he is improving his property, 

 adding to its cash valuations and doing 

 much to beautify his section of the pro- 

 vince. 



Fruit, carefuly handled and properly 

 graded and packed in a co-operative pack- 

 ing house, is in the same position with re- 

 gard to a market as creamery-made butter, 

 inasmuch as one or two packages is a fair 

 sample of the whole output, and it is only 

 necessary for a dealer to see a small quan- 

 tity to judge the quality of the entire 

 pack. 



That co-operation among fruit growers 

 is the proper way to handle and dispose 

 of fruit can be proven by the results and 

 experiences of last season. The price was 

 from 50 to 75 cents a barrel higher and 

 the demand for co-operative packing com- 

 T'anies' fruit was away beyond the supply. 

 When a reputation has been established, it 

 is not a question of going out to search for 

 a market, but just the opposite. The deal- 

 er, who is desirous of handling reliabia 

 fruit, will come to the company and pur- 

 chase the entire output at the packing 

 house. The culls <ire taken to the vinegar 

 factory. In this way, the whole crop is 

 converted into cash and at a good price. 

 Fur+her than this, fruit growers can co- 

 operate in the purchase of parkaces and 

 thereby secure a first class article at the 

 rr.inimnm of cost. 



Co-operation is the solution, and the only 

 solution of the fruit industry or problem in 

 the province of Nova Scotia. Agricultur- 

 ists co-onerat« through the farmers' insti- 

 tutes and purchase such things as Dure bred 

 stock, fence wire, grass seed, binder twine, 

 etc. Whv should not horticulturists be wise 

 and do likewise? — G. H. Vroom, Dominion 

 Fruit Inspector, Middleton, N.S. 



mi FONTHILL NURSERIES 



ESTABLISHED 1837— OVER 850 ACRES 



LICENSED BY B.C. GOVERNMENT 



WE GROW TREES FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA 



The result of last winter's severe freeze in B.C. has clearly demonstrated the superiority 

 of Ontario Grown Stock over the soft, pithy, Coast-grown trees, forced by irrigation and 

 excessive moisture. 



Our trees are grown under climatic conditions almost identical with those of the best 

 fruit districts of B.C., but on limestone soil, producing trees of a closer fibre, hardy and 

 longer lived. 



Department of Apiculture, Expeiimenlal Farm of B.C., 

 Messrs. Stone & Wellington, Agassiz, May 29th, 1906. 



Toronto, Ontario. 

 Gentlemen:— Yours of the 21st to hand. I know that you will 

 be pleased to learn that I have had splendid success with the scions 

 I received from you. Your trade in the Kootenays should increase 

 very rapidly, as your trees ape good and being grown in a limestone 

 soil are better constituted than those ^rown on this coast, where 

 there is no lime in the soil. Yours faithfully, 



(Signed) Tnos. A. Sharpk 



One of our Apple Trees in Orchard of A. Rutherford 

 Balcomo, B.C., In full bearing, planted only 3 years. 



We offer complete list of varieties of Apple*, Pears, Cherries, Plums, Peaches, etc, 

 Small Fruits and Nut Trees in demand for the B.C. trade ; also specialties in Ornamentals, 

 Flowering Shrubs, Vines,' Roses, Seed Potatoes, etc. 



SEND FOR DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 



SALESJWEN WANTED, WHITE FOR TERMS 



STONE & WELLINGTON, TORONTO, ONT. 



